Why Rajon Rondo is the best point guard in the NBA

Many fans of today’s NBA have become enamored with comparing their favorite superstars. People constantly argue over who is better: Kobe or Lebron; Durant or Carmelo; even Irving or Paul. This mentality, however, has led many fans to miss out on the lesser talked about talent around the league on less competitive teams. The biggest case for this would be the point guard for the Boston Celtics, Rajon Rondo, the best point guard in the league.

Rondo came into the league in 2007. Originally drafted to the Suns, he was quickly traded to the Celtics. As a rookie Rondo came onto one of the most competitive teams in the league, with the big three of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen; some of the greatest players in the league at the time. It did not take long for Rondo to be considered a peer among them, and there were even talks of a “big four” in Boston. In recent seasons, in fact, Rondo’s performance has clearly outshined even these Celtic greats. It takes a rare talent to come into such a highly competitive team and make a name for yourself, but this is exactly the type of talent Rondo is.

Looking at pure statistics it is clear that Rondo is the best point guard in the league. His shooting percentage is higher than both Derrick Rose and Chris Paul at 48.1 percent for his career. His scoring numbers might not be as high as other point guards in the league (but his jump shot has been improving every year), but this is simply because he doesn’t take as many shots, preferring instead to assist and create baskets for his teammates. He averages 11.1 assists a game, ranking number one in the league. He has remarkable court vision and puts his teammates in the right position.

Another especially unique talent for a point guard is Rondo’s ability to rebound the ball, averaging almost double the amount of rebounds that a typical All-Star point guard would and ranks number one in rebounds for his position in the league. Finally, let’s not forget that he also ranks number one in the league in triple doubles, showing his ability as an overall athlete and contributor to the team.

There is more to his game than just his offensive abilities as well, Rondo is one of the most tenacious defenders in the league. With his abnormally long wingspan, he constantly pressures the opposing offense and often is able to steal the ball at an elite level. He also knows how to get the most out of his teammates; as seen with Avery Bradley, he brings out the best in the players around him. Playing side by side with some of the best talent in the league, Rondo knows what it takes to win.

Making a comparison of players in a game such as basketball is normally all but impossible, there are too many variables in the equation. With the core of the Celtics team gone, Rondo is ready to step up as the leader. By looking at the stats and studying the analysis of the experts it can be said that Rondo is the best point guard in the league.